Tele-ultrasound for remote areas

We studied the introduction of a telemedicine service for the prenatal diagnosis and management of pregnant patients at a remote site in Scotland. During a 10-month study period, 85 videoconferences were carried out between the remote hospital in Elgin and the fetal medicine unit in Aberdeen. ISDN transmission at 384 kbit/s was used. There were technical problems in five calls (6%). The mean call duration was 40 min (range 5-60 min). Most calls (62%) were for educational reasons and 26% were for clinical purposes. The degree of satisfaction recorded by the remote health-care staff was high: the mean score on a five-point scale (1, very unsatisfied; 5, very satisfied) for general satisfaction with the clinical support was 4.2. The system was found to be both clinically useful and educationally beneficial.